The only void I can see is the one in the TPP...

From this point on he shall be known as "the cheque collector"...

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

I wonder if Kouta will play better without the captaincy...

For whom...?

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

What have we go to lose? Throw it over to Lance, see if Kouta plays better without the expectations.

We need a long term captain.
Give it to Walker!!!
Although Stevens is the obvious choice and he isn’t captain material either.

We need a captain who did there apprenticeship with Carlton and the bullants. He then must be willing to learn and grow into the role (Walks fits the description)

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

Speaking of leadership, Stevens was trotted out to face the media today, saying the leadership group was to blame for the loss. Said he was as much to blame as anyone.

Denied he wasn't enjoying his footy.
``I'm still enjoying my footy and still love getting out there and playing in the navy blue jumper. When I go out there and don't enjoy it, that's the time to give up.
The boys are a close group, we'll get each other up and bounce back. We know we have improved, we come a long way from this time last year. The win-loss ratio probably hasn't shown that but i think our effort bar last weekend and a half against Collingwood, we are improving, we've come a fair way.''

we should just play kouta in a forward pocket. take his opponent to the goalsquare. let him wrestle and use his strength. i think, for the record he should still be our captain.

used in this role i feel he could be of more value to us. this would allow walker to be put into the middle, on sunday during his 6 seconds in the middle he won a clearance, evaded 2 tacklers and hit kennedy on the chest.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

Kouta had a great year last year and won our best and fairest. The players respect Kouta because he has been one of the best players that the club has seen. When he is able to lead from the front Kouta is an inspirational captain.

At his best Kouta was my favourite Carlton player. Indeed now I still hold a soft spot for him.

However, Kouta's performance this year has been below par. In fact his performance on the weekend was woeful. On that form he does not deserve to be in the side. Perhaps he is carrying an injury and so a rest ala Nathan Buckley might be the best way to go.

i think kouta definitely has to step down from the captaincy he's already indicated that he'd like to do what james hrd has done with matthew lloyd and play his last year without the captaincy tag.

I think stevens should get the joint captaincy with red for 1 or 2 years and when murphy is ready give it to him when he's about 20 or 21. he is captaincy material and even though we might pick up a better player in the draft this year i doubt he'd have the obvious leadership skills that murph possesses

I heard he's playing with an injury. Don't go too hard canning him you might end up with egg on your face like the Fevola bashers last year.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

i havent said anything harsh about kouta im 14 and i think hes the ebst player ive seen in a navy blue jumper i just think he's not cut for the captaincy and that he should play no more than 1 more season with us. he has been a great servant of our club but i think his time is almost up its useless to persist with him because he's not going to play in a premiership side at carlton so wed be better off giving a go to someone who's going to help our causes in winning a flag in the next 10 years

Yet more outstanding leadership from our captain.



No time like the present. What's stopping him from doing it now?




Can I suggest his play has been inspirational, rather than his leadership, and the distinction is very important. Michael Voss and the others I've mentioned are inspirational leaders even when they're not playing well.



Well succincted.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

If you can inspire people then you are a leader. End of story.

Many times I agree with your stuff mallee, but this is not one of those occasions. Just because someone performs an inspiring act does not make them a leader. That's a logical fallacy akin to "My dog has four legs. My cat has four legs. Therefore my dog is a cat."

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

If he's injured then DON'T PLAY HIM. Give the spot to somone else (JR, Stenata, whoever). Give the temporary captaincy to Lance or Stevo and see how we go.

It's really that simple. He's embarrasing himself and the club.

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17 4 10

My dog has 3 legs therefore its a tripod...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

So he might be ok next year????

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

First of all - Kouta should retire at year's end. No use finishing half way through a season, when you know you're getting circa 45K a game.

Second - JW, your avatar is the biggest insult to Diesel since some Dawk fool on radio compared Sam Mitchell to Diesel. Whilst Bentick is up and down form wise, he is not even a quarter as good as Diesel was, and never will be!!!! No evolution there!!!!

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

Kouta is finished as a player.It is sad to say this but age and injury have taken there toll.He didnt have a great year last year.He was the best of an ordinary bunch.Some of his games were ordinary a sign that you are slowing up fast.The game has passed him by.Dont think I am having a crack at Kouta.The club was stupid enough to offer him a 5 year deal at the age of 28.We all have a use by date in everything we do.The bottom line is AFL footy has passed him by.

So he won the best and Fairest last year.So did Andy McKay in his last year.He new it would be silly to continue as he would of been in the same predicament in 2004 as Kouta is now. He cant run cant play a key post anymore despite his size and now has trouble in the clearences because of a dicky shoulder.

Remember Terry Daniher's last year at Essendon* in 91.He was in the same form as Kouta had the same standing as Kouta yet Sheedy made the tough call by dumping to the magoos for the teams long term benefit and brought him back for the last game as a way for the fans to say thankyou.Sheedy made the stand that said the club's future was more important than one individual no matter what a legend he is or was and no matter how much he gets paid.Has Pagan got the testies to do the same thing because Kouta's form doesn't warrant a game.


Its a cruel game.Some players like Bartlett,Bradley and Tuck are freaks .They are few and far between.The best example of a champion who went from a champ to a chump is Gary Ayres who largley due to Achilles Tendon problems became a liability within the space of a month. I can understand Kouta wants to play but for the good of the team he should be rested at least.


The lesson learnt here.Dont give a 28 year old a 5 year contract.Sheer lunacy.

I am not talking about an individual inspirational act I am talking about inspiring people over an extended period of time. If you can inspire people in what you have achieved then you will be their leader. Anyway, it is semantics.

Kouta has inspired people over an extended period of time and has gained the respect of the players as he has led them on the football field. His deficencies now though are proving to be a big liability to the team.